Executive Summary
A leading IT Software Development and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) unit approached CyberSapiens to assess and secure their internal network infrastructure. Critical components like switches and firewalls were potentially exposed to denial-of-service and lateral movement attacks due to outdated configurations.
Our team conducted a targeted Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) engagement that uncovered high-risk misconfigurations and helped the client achieve:
- Improved network stability and uptime
- Reduced internal threat surface
- Enhanced segmentation and control All within just 6 business days.
Scope
The project focused on the following critical assets within the client’s network infrastructure:
- Switches: Core devices responsible for network connectivity and traffic management.
- Firewalls: Security systems designed to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic.
The objective was to evaluate these systems for vulnerabilities that could lead to denial-of-service, unauthorized access, or internal data leakage.
Methodologies Used
The project utilized the following industry-standard methodologies to ensure a comprehensive and structured assessment:
- OWASP Testing Guide: Focused on identifying application-level vulnerabilities and security gaps.
- PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard): Provided a systematic framework for conducting penetration testing, covering pre-engagement, intelligence gathering, threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, and reporting.
- NIST Guidelines: Ensured alignment with best practices for network security, risk management, and vulnerability assessment.
- CIS Benchmarks: Used to evaluate and harden the configuration of network devices against established security standards.
These methodologies ensured a thorough and consistent approach to identifying vulnerabilities, assessing risks, and providing actionable recommendations.
Findings
Weak STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) Configurations:
- BPDU Guard Not Enabled: Allowed unauthorized BPDU injection, making the network susceptible to STP manipulation attacks.
- No MAC Address Learning Limits: Enabled MAC table flooding, which could overwhelm switch resources and disrupt network operations.
- No VLAN Segmentation: Lack of private VLANs allowed unrestricted communication between devices within the same VLAN, increasing the risk of lateral movement by attackers.
Impact on the Network Infrastructure
Denial of Service (DoS) via STP Manipulation (Critical)
- An attacker could exploit weak STP configurations to disrupt the network topology, causing widespread outages and halting business operations.
MAC Flooding Attacks (Medium)
- Overwhelming the switch’s MAC address table could lead to performance degradation, packet loss, and potential data leakage.
Unauthorized Device Communication (Medium)
- The lack of VLAN segmentation allowed unrestricted communication between devices within the same VLAN, increasing the risk of lateral movement by attackers and potential data breaches.
These vulnerabilities posed significant risks to the stability, performance, and security of the network infrastructure, requiring immediate remediation to prevent potential exploitation.
Remediation Steps
To address the identified vulnerabilities and strengthen the network infrastructure, the following remediation measures were implemented:
Enabled BPDU Guard on Edge Ports:
- This prevents unauthorized BPDU injection, mitigating the risk of STP manipulation attacks and ensuring network stability.
Limited MAC Address Learning Per Port
- By restricting the number of MAC addresses that can be learned by a switch port, this measure prevents MAC table flooding attacks and improves switch performance.
Implemented Private VLANs
- This enhances network segmentation by isolating devices within the same VLAN, reducing the risk of unauthorized communication and lateral movement by attackers.
Results After Implementing Remediations
Network Stability Restored
- The risk of STP-related disruptions was eliminated, ensuring stable and uninterrupted network operations.
DoS Risks Mitigated
- By enabling BPDU Guard and limiting MAC address learning, the network became resilient to STP manipulation and MAC flooding attacks.
MAC Snooping Prevented
- The implementation of MAC address limits prevented unauthorized devices from snooping on network traffic, enhancing data security.
Improved VLAN Security
- Private VLANs ensured that devices within the same VLAN were properly segmented, reducing the risk of unauthorized communication.
Optimized Switch Performance
- The network switches operated more efficiently, with reduced risk of performance degradation due to malicious activities.
Timeline
The project was completed within the following timeline
- 5 Days: Conducting the Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) to identify vulnerabilities across the network infrastructure.
- 1 Day: Preparing and delivering the final report, including findings, remediation recommendations, and actionable steps.
